BELLOWS FALLS UNION HIGH SCHOOL
School Board Meeting
October 8, 2007
Present: Matthew Guild, Jack Bryar, Russell Capron, Stephen L. Fine, Paul Obuchowski, David Clark, John Porter
Also Present: Johanna Harpster, Christopher Kibbe, Christopher Hodsden, Ryan Parkman, Kathleen Callahan, Caroline Kirkpatrick, Chelsea Berry, faculty members, Eagle Times, FACT-TV
1. Call to Order:
The Chair, David Clark, called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
2. Adjustments to the Agenda:
Fall Mt. Transportation Request will be added to Item 6, Other Business.
3. Consent Items:
Jack Bryar moved to approve the minutes of September 24, 2007 as presented. The motion passed.
4. Reports:
A. Principal’s Report
(1) Technical Center Enrollments
Board members received information regarding current year technical center enrollments. Principal Hodsden noted that these numbers change often, and encouraged board members to contact him if they feel there are discrepancies.
B. Superintendent of Schools
(1) Appointment of Special Education Committee
Superintendent Harpster announced that Principal Christopher Hodsden, Student Council representatives Chelsey Berry and Caroline Kirkpatrick, and Special Education faculty member Linda Prinsen have been appointed to the Special Education Committee. Still to be appointed are: a regular educator, a parent, a community member, and a board member. Meeting times/dates have not been established.
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(2) October 1 Count
Board members received opening day and Oct. 1 pupil counts, and an estimate of numbers for the next five years based on current information. John Porter questioned the discrepancy between local figures and those reported by the state. The Chair agreed to work with Principal Hodsden on reviewing data.
C. Student Representatives
Student Council is looking into the Legacy Grant program as a means to provide funds for auditorium renovations. Chelsey Berry suggested that a “shadow day” be planned for board members, to give them an idea of what a student’s day in the school is like.
D. Technical Center Representatives
Springfield - the RVTC board met this week and heard a report by a group who recently spent 10 days in Japan.
Brattleboro - the board discussed the “Rosie’s Girls” program, enrollment data, and a graduates’ survey.
E. Committees and Special Projects
(1) Policy Committee
(a) Minutes (Sept. 24) were included in the agenda packet.
(b) Policies for Adoption:
Stephen Fine moved the policies on Business and Non-Instructional Operations (Section E), and on Students (Section F, F1 through F16) for adoption as presented. The motion passed.
(c) Policies for First Reading
Stephen Fine moved to accept the policies on Students (Section F, F17 through F27) and the Graduation Policy as presented, for first reading. The motion passed.
(2) School and Community Relations Committee
(a) Minutes (Sept. 22) were included in the agenda packet.
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Jack Bryar stated that the committee is organizing teams to go to individual organizations and institutions to solicit the idea of volunteers becoming more directly involved with the school. Paul Obuchowski requested that the committee bring their plans to the board before presenting to the community. The Chair added this request to the next agenda.
(3) John Porter requested an update on Hadley Field. The Chair asked that this topic be added to the next agenda.
5. Communications and Public Comments:
Peter Naitove suggested that two faculty members be invited to sit at the table during board meetings, and have an opportunity to speak under Reports, similar to that of the Student Representatives. Paul Obuchowski questioned the intent; whether the suggestion was for any two faculty members attending the meeting or if there would be two designated teachers, and stated that if these individuals are going to be speaking for the staff, they should be elected by them.
6. Other Business:
A. Budget Committee Agenda
The Budget Committee will be meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9th, to discuss:
(1) Present Building Issues and Establish Priorities,
(2) Personnel Requests, and
(3) Schedule Building and Grounds Committee Meeting for Long-Term Planning
B. Fall Mountain Transportation Request
Fall Mountain Regional High School has asked BFUHS to provide transportation for one of their students to the tech center in Brattleboro. FMRHS agreed that payment will be made at the rate the committee has established. Russ Capron expressed concern about the formula Mac Jones used for arriving at the per-student cost. Stephen Fine moved to provide transportation for a Fall
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Mountain Regional High School student to Brattleboro at the rate established by the Transportation Committee. Lengthy discussion ensued regarding whether or not the board passed a motion accepting the transportation agreement formula at its last meeting. John Porter moved to table Mr. Fine’s motion to the next meeting. The motion passed with four members in favor, one opposed (Bryar), and one abstention (Fine).
C. Directors Comments:
Russ Capron
· Again asked for an update on whether teachers who signed contracts without certifications are now certified;
· Explained changes to the law as to how budgets will be voted on, which had been discussed during the recent VSBA meeting;
John Porter explained his intention for last week’s motion to have the board negotiate directly with teachers in this school. Russ Capron noted that, under the new law, this would not be possible.
7. Date of Next Scheduled Meeting:
The Chair set the date of the next meeting for October 22, 2007.
8. Executive Session:
Stephen Fine moved to go into executive session at 8:58 p.m. for the purpose of discussing a student matter and a student record, and invited the administration to attend. The motion passed.
The Chair returned the board to open session at 9:30 p.m. Paul Obuchowski moved to accept the administration’s recommendation regarding a student disciplinary matter. The motion passed.
9. Adjournment:
John Porter moved to adjourn at 9:31 p.m. The motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Margaret Perry, Clerk
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